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Gospel Workers 1915
Those who are true to their calling as messengers of God, will not
seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love
for Christ. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did
John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin
of the world.” [
John 1:29
.]
The soul of the prophet, emptied of self, was filled with the light
of the Divine. In words that were almost a counterpart of the words
of Christ Himself, he bore witness to the Saviour’s glory. “He that
cometh from above,” he said, “is above all: he that is of the earth
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is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is
above all.” “For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God.”
[
John 3:31, 34
.]
In this glory of Christ all His followers are to share. The Saviour
could say, “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which
hath sent Me.” [
John 5:30
.] And John declared, “God giveth not the
Spirit by measure unto Him.” So with the followers of Christ. We can
receive of heaven’s light only as we are willing to be emptied of self.
We can discern the character of God, and accept Christ by faith, only
as we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the
obedience of Christ. And to all who do this, the Holy Spirit is given
without measure. In Christ “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily. And ye are complete in Him.” [
Colossians 2:9, 10
.]
* * * * *
The life of John was not spent in idleness, in ascetic gloom, or
in selfish isolation. From time to time he went forth to mingle with
men; and he was ever an interested observer of what was passing in the
world. From his quiet retreat he watched the unfolding of events. With
vision illuminated by the Divine Spirit he studied the character of men,
that he might understand how to reach their hearts with the message
of heaven. The burden of his mission was upon him. In solitude, by
meditation and prayer, he sought to gird up his soul for the life-work
before him.
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